Thoughts and observations by English poet Roger N. Taber, a retired librarian & poet-novelist.- "Colour, creed, sex, sexuality... these are but part of a whole. It is the whole that counts." RNT [NB While I have no wish to create a social network, I will always reply to emails. Contact: rogertab@aol.com].

Wednesday, 6 March 2013

A Mythology of Leaves

Regular
readers will know I have a passion for nature; its trees, history, and mythology...

A
MYTHOLOGY OF LEAVES

As
the wind rustles leaves across earth and sky

and
the moon feels its way among clouds,

hear
voices of old gods telling loud and strong

of
a time when they sat, oh, so proudly,

on
the crest of Olympus considering the ways

of Earth’s children and found us wanting

It
is Earth Mother who replies, loud and strong,

reminding
them where they went wrong,

trying
to manipulate humankind at their whim

like
pieces on a chessboard instead

of
allowing for its foibles and letting its peoples

win
or lose their own battles

To
the tawny owl, she calls, as it hunts its prey

and
to the rabbit, trying to run away…

To
the rough sleeper on the streets of a city

where
few will act upon their pity

but
watch and wait, playing the blame game

(old
gods, in all but name)

As
the wind rustles leaves across earth and sky

and
the moon feels its way to dawn,

hear
voices of old gods calling loud and strong

on
a time long, long, gone…

while
Earth Mother can but consider the ways

of
a new generation and find us wanting

Come
day, hear Earth Mother confide in Apollo

how
humanity’s poetry rings, oh, so hollow

[From: On the Battlefields of Love by R. N.
Taber, Assembly Books, 2010

[Please
Note: My collections are only on sale in the UK but anyone can order
(signed) copies from me at a generous blogger discount. For details, contact rogertab@aol.com with ‘Blog reader’ or Poetry collection’ in the subject field.]

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About Me

A gay man. Born in Gillingham, Kent (UK) Dec. 21st 1945. Graduated with BA Hons.(Class 2/1) in English & American Literature, the University of Kent in Canterbury, summer 1973.

Some 700+ poems have appeared in poetry publications worldwide since 1993, excluding any that only appear in my collections.

Better known as a poet, my first novel - 'Blasphemy' was published in the USA, October 2006 ; it is Book 1 of a planned trilogy and was also distributed in the UK & the rest of Europe. Book 2 - 'Sacrilege' -was self-published and only on sale in the UK or on the Internet. [Book 3 - 'Redemption' - has been delayed due to illness. (I have prostate cancer.) Other novels have not yet found an agent/ publisher but are serialised on my fiction site.